1) Commodus has the distinction of being the first emperor in a long time who was actually blood-related to the previous one. Marcus Aurelias was his father. But Commodus did not murder that father. In fact, they co-ruled for three years. And when Aurelias died, Commodus wasn't even in town. Commodus *was* a tyrant, mostly because he was something of a party-boy and did not know how to deal with the rampant political corruption surrounding him. He was, as someone put it, a gladiator fanboy and fought in the arena, charging the city of Rome staggering sums of money every time he did so. He also had his opponents prepared so that he was less likely to lose, often choosing cripples and half-starved criminals. He was not well thought of for this behavior. It's a little like a US president participating in WWF with the fights rigged. But he was even less well thought of for devaluing Roman currency. He was assassinated in his bath by a gladiator-servant and his death released a deluge of bloodshed and political chaos that continued for many years.

2) The problem with Frank Hopkins is that he wrote his own history. In a time of glamorized western novels, which saw the birth of many equally over-glamorized figures such as Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson, Hopkins was just another paperback hero glorified for eastern public consumption. He claimed to have had many thrilling adventures in his book, but the only part that could be varified was that he was a reasonably successful long-distance rider in the United States. There is no record of him participating in such races overseas, in Arabia or anywhere else. His connection to Wounded Knee is a Hollywood fabrication.

3) Allowing for over-dramatizations and some condensing of time, "Patton" is generally a pretty accurate movie.

4) Robin Hood is a conglomerate character, made up from the legends of a lot of highway men. In fact, it was common practice to call all thieves "Robin". So while there was no Robin of Locksley, there was likely a whole flotilla of Robin Hoods, all of them condensed-down into the story of one man which is the one we now remember.

But my question wasn't about Robin Hood. It was about King Richard and of course he wasn't a ideal king. That's a bunch of pseudo-patriotic hooey the Victorians sold themselves starting around the middle of the 19th century. In fact, Richard didn't give a damn about England. He even offered to sell it once. And he spent less than a year there during his entire reign. His antipathy towards the country probably stems from arguments with his father, Henry II, who did in fact give a damn about England. Richard gave control to younger brother John and did not give a damn what that younger brother did, so long as he got money for his crusades. He was also captured and held for a ransom so great, it damn near bankrupted his country. He died before he could return to England. And the thing that finally "set things right" with Bad Prince John was a piece of parchment called the Magna Carta.

5) Johnny Ringo was indeed a member of the Cowboys, an outlaw gang that rustled cattle, committed highway robberies and generally annoyed the people of Tombstone with their drunken antics, but there is no indication that he was a dangerous psychopath. He did come to the attention of Wyatt Earp, since Earp was in fact sheriff of Tombstone at that time, and was pursued along with a number of other Cowboys as part of a general clean-up of the territory. Ringo was later found dead from a bullet wound to the head, but there was no indication of who actually shot him.

In fact, there has been speculation lately that Ringo might have been a suicide. He was discovered without his horse and his boots, so faced a rather grisly fate had he not taken matters into his own hands.

6) The story of Becket has its roots in a political tug of war between Henry II and the Catholic Church that had been going on for years. The Church saw itself as a leveling influence in Europe. One capable of reigning-in the excesses of Catholic kings by threatening them with divine retribution. The Church exerted so much influence, they were in direct competition with those kings and Henry, for one, didn't much like that. When he saw a way of tipping things in his favor, he did not hesitate to place a crony in the post of archbishop of Canterbury.

Thomas Becket was not only a crony of Henry II, he was both a Saxon (the member of a defeated race) and a commoner. --Sometime Henry never tired of twitting him about. And although Becket and Henry were friends, Henry was definitely the dominate personality in that friendship. In fact, he was something of a bully. So when Becket got a chance to get out from under Henry, he did not hesitate. He sided with the Church, who was in every way Henry's political equal.

When this happened, Henry was furious. He had *made* Becket, which --in his opinion at least-- made Becket his creature. Henry was prone to fits of temper just as he was prone to getting drunk, so he did indeed make a veiled request to his lords that they should find Becket and kill him.

Unfortunately for Henry, the assassination blew up in his face. Becket was being declared a saint before his blood was dry on the cathedral floor. The Church was quick to capitalize on Becket and make this rebellious king to tow the line, so Henry was forced to accept his penance.

In other words, the movie was dramatized, but pretty much on point.

Hollywood has never let truth stand in the way of a good story, so they have a reputation for playing fast and loose with history. Here's a chance for you historians to get even.

Because there are often multiple mistakes in any given "historic" movie, I'm going to concentrate on one particular character in each film.


1) "Gladiator" 2000 - Commodus - Joaquin Phoenix: In the movie, Commodus killed his father, usurped the throne, fought as a gladiator, and his assassination resulted in the restoration of the Republic and many following years of peace. Is any of this true?

2) "Hidalgo" 2004 - Frank Hopkins - Viggo Mortensen: In the movie, Hopkins is a renown long-distance rider whose unfortunate involvement with the US Cavalry causes him to be partly culpable for the massacre at Wounded Knee. This results in his becoming an alcoholic who seeks redemption, of a sort, in entering a race in Arabia called the "Ocean of Fire". A race he ultimately won riding a pinto mustang named Hidalgo. How much of this is true?

3) "Patton" 1970 - Gen George Patton - George C Scott: A fair amount of care was taken to "get things right" while creating this film. Aside from substitutions in locale necessitated by circumstance, what is historically wrong with this movie?

4) "The Adventures of Robin Hood" 1938 - King Richard - Ian Hunter: This character is represented in a lot of Robin Hood dramas as the ideal king, I just happened to pick the classic one. In this film, King Richard goes off on Crusade, leaving his younger brother Prince John in charge. Richard, unaware of John's tyrannical behavior, eventually returns to England and sets things to rights, including restoring Robin of Locksley's title and lands. Is any of this true?

5) "Tombstone" 1993 - Johnny Ringo - Michael Biehn: This film has a number of historical problems, including the inclusion of a love story that is greatly fictionalized, but I've chosen to concentrate on a relatively minor character simply because the film treatment of Johnny Ringo is symptomatic of how Hollywood bends history. In the film, Johnny Ringo is depicted as a cold-blooded psychopath who is so frighteningly violent, Wyatt Earp is hesitant to confront him. To spare him the necessity of doing so, Doc Holliday confronts Ringo and shoots him. Is any of this true?

6) "Becket" 1964 - King Henry II of England- Pete O'Toole: In the film, Henry II is lusty, aggressive, womanizing king whose best friend is the Saxon Thomas Becket, Lord Chancellor. When the post of archbishop in Canterbury becomes vacant, Henry II appoints Becket, assuming Becket will promote Henry's best interests when they conflict with those of the Church. Becket sides with the Church, sending Henry into a rage. In a drunken stupor, Henry asks "Who will rid me of this troublesome priest...?" His drinking buddies --various knights and lords in his employ-- hear this and assume it's a request for Becket's assassination. They kill Becket, resulting in his martyrdom, and Henry is finally forced to accept penance to quell growing political unrest. How much of this is true?

1) 'Die Hard" was Alan Rickman's introduction to major movie roles, just like it was Willis'. Before "Die Hard", Rickman was known mostly for his stage-work and roles in British television shows.

2) Yes indeed. Ford was sick as a dog with a stomach ailment during the scene and after a couple of failed attempts, he is reported to have told Spielberg: "I have a goddamn gun! Why don't I just shoot the fucker?" He did, of course, and it is one of the most memorable scenes in the movie.

3) Robert Shaw did the whole thing in one continuous take. The changes of angle in the scene are due to the fact Speilberg had extra cameras running. It was cut and wrap in one try.

4) The body-count on Lara Croft's guns is zero ---unless you count the bad guy who was clocked over the head with one. That's right. In the entire movie, she shot no one.

5) "The Towering Inferno" was a collaboration between Warner Bros and 20th Century Fox. Both movie companies were making high-rise fire disaster films and decided to pool their resources rather than compete. And never mind that each movie was based on a different book, "The Tower" and "The Glass Inferno". The collaboration led to a war of attrition between McQueen and Newman over who got top billing, who got more screen-time and how many lines each had.

6) In both "Lord of the Rings" and "Hidalgo", Viggo Mortensen bought his equine co-stars and installed them on his ranch. He wanted to make sure that they were well-treated and nothing bad could happen to them. (He also happened to like the horses a lot.)

Here we go again.

Subject: ACTION MOVIES

1) The original "Die Hard" movie was not only a watershed role for Bruce Willis, who jumped from TV roles to major movie status as a result, it was also a watershed moment for Alan Rickman, our favorite bad guy. In what way was it important to him?

2) In "Raiders of the Lost Ark", Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones is confronted by a large swordsman, who threatens Jones with elaborate flourishes of his blade. Originally the script called for Jones to disarm the man with his whip. Instead Jones shoots him. What was the reason for the change?

3) "In "Jaws" Captain Quint, the shark hunter, explains his hatred for the beasts by regaling his shipmates with the harrowing tale of sinking of the Indianapolis in shark-infested waters. Since this takes place during a night of heavy drinking aboard Quint's boat, Robert Shaw --a dedicated fan of booze-- thought a certain authenticity might be achieved if he was actually drunk while he told the story. The experiment failed miserably, so filming was discontinued and everyone was sent home for the night. The next morning, Shaw showed up on the set contrite and hungover as hell and asked to give the story another try. How many takes were required for Shaw to deliver his lines successfully?

4) In "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" Angelina Jolie carries a brace of guns in most of the action scenes. She also uses them frequently. What is the body-count on those guns?

5) Let's go back in time! "The Towering Inferno" was one of the biggest budget disaster movies of its time. It even featured two major stars, Steve McQueen and Paul Newman, along with expensive co-stars William Holden, Fay Dunaway and Fred Astair. It was able to devote this much money to its production because of a collaboration that is relatively common these days, but was almost unheard of back then. What collaboration was this?

6) Double-header. Viggo Mortensen, who played in both the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy and "Hidalgo" did a lot of his own stunts in these movies. He also did most of his own riding. At the end of each movie, he did something that was both an act of concern and a gesture of respect for a co-star who worked closely with him. What was this?

We;;, it's been a bummer of a birthday so far. First off, my stomach.has been grumpy all day. Secondly, it snowed like hell and blew like hell. So much, we are on lock-down in southern Delaware tonight. If you're caught on the road, unless it's an emergency, you will be arrested. I've been here 15 years now and I've never seen that before. It's so bad, a snowplow got stuck trying to turn into our street, spun his wheels for a while, then gave up and went home. Webb was concerned about shoveling the driveway, but there's no point. Not only it our street still blocked, the wind is still blowing and the driveway would be buried in no time. So we've been stuck inside, staring out the windows and sleeping. Looks like tomorrow will be more of the same.

Bleeh!

Hippo Birdie to me
I live by the sea
I'm up to my eyes in snowdrifts
and think I'll climb a tree.

I am 65 today, which makes me officially old.

Now for the important stuff.

1) "The Thing", in all its various incarnations, is based on the story "Who Goes There?" by John Campbell.

2) The army had no hesitation in giving live weapons and ammo to the cast of "THEM!" because most of them, including the two male leads, were World War II veterans and knew damned well how to handle the equipment.

3) All during the movie "5 Million Years to Earth" the plot emphasizes the link between the aliens and human racial memories of devils and demons. The goat-eyes are just another such link.

4) Although the use of lightning to reanimate the monster in the original "Frankenstein" movie is now so iconic, no one would think of doing it any other way, Mary Shelley never actually describes the reanimation method used in her novel. All she says is that it took place in Frankenstein's university dorm room.

5) The building used for exterior shots in "13 Ghosts" was the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose. The House was shot from the side rather than the front so that it would not be too obvious, but it's the Winchester House all the same.

6) In the 50s-60s, there were all sorts of gimmicks used to heightened the fear of audiences attending second-rate "Date Night" horror flicks, including spray smells, plants in the audience who "fainted" and were then removed by equally phony emergency personnel, and a skeleton-puppet that emerged through a split movie screen and was then drawn up into the rafters. In the the case of "The Tingler", some of the theater seats were equipped with buzzers to simulate an attack by the monster. Some were badly installed, resulting in shocks. There were also supposed to be ropes strung under the seats and hung with beanbags that were pulled by the ushers, causing the beanbags to rub against the spectators' legs, frightening them into thinking the monster was under their chair, but just how this was supposed to work, I don't know.

Since we're under a blizzard warning tonight, I figured to cuddle-down with a quiz. This one not as obscure as the last.

Subject: CLASSIC HORROR MOVIES

1) The movie "The Thing" starring Kurt Russell was based on an earlier 1950s movie also called "The Thing". This movie was based on a short story. What was the name of that short story?

2) In the movie "THEM!", real flamethrowers and guns were used in the combat scenes. These weapons were loaned to the movie crew by the US Army. Those weapons were used by the actors in the film. Normally, the Army would insist on using their own experts in order to prevent injuries, but in this case they had no trouble allowing the actors to handle the weapons themselves, Why?

3) In the movie called "5 Million Years to Earth" (also known as "Quatermass and the Pit") the plot revolves around an ancient alien spacecraft discovered in the wall of a London subway. In this craft are the mummified remains of the original occupants. These creatures are insectoidal in shape with horn-like antennae, a beak-like proboscis. a rather odd tri-pedal arrangement of their lower limbs and tri-lobed eyes, like those of the Martians in "War of the Worlds". Unlike the eyes of the WOFTW Martians, these bugs have both irises and bar-sharped pupils, like a goat's. This wasn't a random artistic decision. It was very deliberately done. Can you tell me why?

4) In the classic original movie "Frankenstein", the monster is brought to life after being exposed to the massive electrical discharge of lightning. This is now the accepted method of reanimating Frankenstein monsters, but it is NOT the one used in the original Shelley novel. What was Shelley's means of reanimating "Adam"?

5) The movie "13 Ghosts" --the original 1960 version-- shows the exterior of the house that is inherited by the family, along with its 13 Ghosts. The building used for these shots is a famous California landmark. Which one its it?

6) The movie "The Tingler" was one of a number of "date-night" horror flicks that included timed physical sensations to heighten the fear-effect of the audience. The one used in "The Tingler" was called "Precepto" and was installed in the theater seats themselves. What was this?

Here's hoping for better health, less insanity and more productivity.
Vicky

1) The term "woodhenge" actually refers to any number of ceremonial circles in the British Isles where the markers used were logs rather than stones. The largest of which shares the same plain as Stonehenge and was connected to it by a processional walkway. The one I'm talking about was discovered on the coast in the County of Norfolk after a series of winter storms cleared a great deal of sand away. This woodhenge (also known as "seahenge") was a singular structure in that the focal point in the center of its circle was a large tree thrust top-down into sand with its roots on display. Also, instead of being surrounded by a loosely-spaced circle of logs, it was encircled by cut timbers tightly wedged together. This fence had only one small opening and that was screened by a log placed just outside, making it impossible for anyone outside the structure to see what was happening inside. No one knows, of course, what kind of ceremonies were conducted there, but they were evidently quite secret.

The scandal developed when the British authorities decided to dismantle the site and move it to a place where it could be studied in safety. Its position on the Norfolk coast only allowed it to be examined at low tide and there was a great deal of concern the elements, now that it was exposed, would destroy it. This decision was viewed with great dismay by various British New Age groups, who held protests at the site in an attempt to keep the 'henge from being removed, but these protests were not successful.

Tony Robinson's Time Team crew later reconstructed the 'henge using stone age methods. He said that the circle with its upside-down denuded tree was one of eeriest sights he'd ever seen.


2) During another rough winter on the Scottish coast a village of round houses was discovered. This was evidently a fishing village occupied by several family groups during a time when the climate was more temperate and sea-levels were lower. In the three largest round houses were large stone structures across from the entrance. These were not hearths. Nor were they alters or a work tables. Instead they appear to have been a display cabinets made with a flat top and the insides divided-up into forward-facing niches. Judging from the artifacts found in the remains of these cabinets, they were used to display family finery, the best bowls, the best baskets, jewelry and carvings. Just like china cupboards and silver cabinets are used today all over the world.


3) From its beginning, the smelting of metal was viewed as quasi-mystical. It took a fantastic amount of work to do; it needed an expert to get anything useful out of it; and once an object was produced, only the very wealthy could afford to own it. Therefore any metal object was viewed with reverence during the Bronze Age. Especially swords, as these were symbols of status and power as well as wealth.

Bronze Age swords were cast, not forged. A stone mold was made and the molten metal poured into it. When we're talking about a long item like a sword, the chances of flaws in the casting were fairly good and the ability to produce such weapons, one after another, was greatly respected. Also revered was the moment when the new weapon was removed from its mold. Drawn from its stone, literally.

By the time of Arthur, swords were no longer cast. They were forged from prepared iron ingots. But some whisper of the old reverence must have survived in men's minds, recalling the moment when the mold was opened and the sword revealed.

(This rings particularly true if one remembers what the dying Arthur did with Excaliber. He threw it in the water, returning it to the Lady of the Lake, which was also a Bronze Age custom.)


4) As I said in the question, the eating of fish was considered a pious gesture by the Catholic Church. Fish was considered less "worldly" than other meats. Lamb, beef, chicken --if you could get them-- were thought of as prideful and indulgent luxuries, so the truly holy man did not eat them. Therefore the Church restricted the eating of "flesh" on certain days and some practitioners gave up on the idea altogether.

However, this was not the only reason to eat fish. It was the cheapest, most easily replenished protein-source out there. It could be kept fresh in fish-tanks built on the grounds of manors and abbeys and salted and dried for shipment anywhere. So the eating of fish on holy days was not just pious; it was economic.


5) The inclusion of wine in the British diet was not the result of health concerns. In fact, beer/ale is as safe to drink as wine because the water used to make it is boiled in the process. What brought wine to British tables --of the wealthy, at least-- was war. It began shortly after the Norman Conquest.

Before William the Conqueror set foot on British shores, the island that would be called England was evolving along Germanic lines, which meant the beverages of choice were beer and ale. (With a bit of mead thrown in for good measure.) Once William came storming in, everything changed. The government. The laws of inheritance. The relationship of the peasant to his lord. Everything. Another thing William's cohorts brought with them was the French taste for wine, so wine became part of the British menu.

6) I'm surprised no one thought to mention the Field of Cloth of Gold, an assembly of very lavish tents constructed for a conference between King Henry and the King of France early in Henry's reign. These tents had palace-style furnishings and glass windows and featured fountains out in their courtyard that dispensed both red and white wine. However, extravagant though it was, the Field was intended as a temporary structure and was taken-down after the conference was over, so it doesn't count.

The palace I'm talking about is Nonesuch, an extravagant little jewel box of a royal residence that cost a scandalous 24,000 pounds and took nine years to build. (24K pounds probably sounds like chicken-feed these days, but at the time this was a whopping amount.) What Nonesuch had going against it was its size. It wasn't much larger than a hunting lodge and could not accommodate the massive crowd that was Henry's court. It was also his last palace, started late in Henry's life, when he was too ill to go hunting anyway. As far as I know, he only went there once, to showoff the lavish decorations in the finished portions to a select group of friends. He died before it was finished and although it kicked about for some time afterwards, passing in and out of royal hands, its small size made it something of a white elephant. It was eventually demolished and its fine decoration sold off. In fact, it vanished so completely, it was thought to be an old wives' tale until excavation on the grounds revealed its buried foundations. Nonesuch can now only be experienced in cyberspace, where a 3D model of it now exists.

I have also been requested to do a quiz on history. Since the history I know the most about is English, I'm going to start there. I'll get to the other stuff later.

The first questions are based on information gotten from "Time Team", hosted by Tony Robinson. If you've never seen this series, I recommend it very highly. It is available on YouTube.

1) What is "WoodHenge"? And why did it cause a scandal?

2) The British Stone Age/early Bronze Age was not without its artist trims and flourishes. In fact, your truly stylish round-house owner included a large stone construction directly opposite the entrance, ensuring that it would be the first thing seen when a guest entered the house. This thing was largely impractical. It's use was almost completely decorative. What was it?

3) It is now believed that the Arthurian legend of drawing the Sword from the Stone has a basis in fact. What practice is it thought to refer to?

4) Knights and monks during the Middle Ages ate a great deal of fish. Partly this was because fish was considered "not of the mortal earth", unlike beef or other red meats, which were definitely earthly, extravagant and expensive. So it was considered humble and virtuous to eat fish, but there was another reason it was so popular. What was it?

5) The population of the British Isles drank ale almost exclusively until something happened and wine was suddenly added to the menu. What was this thing?

6.) King Henry VIII was not only known for his collection of wives, he was also known to be a lavish spend-thrift. In fact, not until George IV was his monumental spending exceeded. One of the things he liked spending money on was tournaments. Another was decorative palaces. But perhaps the most decorative of the lot lasted only a short time. What was the name of this palace?


(You will notice I have steered clear of wars and other such conflicts in this offering. That's because there's more to history than dates and destruction. Besides, I'll get to that stuff later.)

1) Yes indeed. Kubla Kahn by Sam Coleridge.

2) Amalthea, after the lead character in "The Last Unicorn"

3) Like I said, the term "Domestique" is subject to interpretation, especially since it denotes a socially disadvantaged group.

A chicken would probably concede that she was a Domestique, but a goose would argue about it. A horse would certainly see himself as Freeborn, while a donkey might concede to being a Domestique. Goats would be very confusing generally, because there are a fair number of wild goat breeds, while a llama is definitely Freeborn. Diggers, the dinosaurian group from "Into Golden Skies", have no such social distinctions and would think you were nuts for even suggesting it.

4) Indeed, a Warrior Dragon is expected to die in battle and since Bureaucrat Dragons are not required to fight, this leaves at least one mate alive to care for the home and the kids.

5) Dragonfire comes from The Golden Essence, which was formed from the magical body of the Phoenix when she immolated herself for love.

6) Captain Jawbreakers visit to Edoko is a homage to the numerous visits of Godzilla to Tokyo. After all, they are both bipedal green lizards paying a call on the capital cities of oriental cultures. Some breakage is to be expected.

7) Black Dragons split the tips of their tails for quick identification during combat. Since Black Dragons often fight at night, it can be difficult to make out details. This detail is unmistakable.

8) Kajishiro, The White Fire, was the Guard of the Western Gate during Allynrud's first visit to the Golden Realm. He was an arrogant SOB with a chip on his shoulder the size of a battering ram. He attacked Toddrick Plume, Allynrud's captain of the Guard and Reginald's father, which allowed Allynrud to force the Golden Mother into the duel that cemented the alliance between the Golden Realm and the then Kingdom of Xanadu, allowing the Empire of Xanadu to exist.

9) The trio paid homage to by Tabbe le Fauve, Jonathan and Kinomon Firestarr are the Lupin Gang by Monkey Punch, Lupin III, Jigen Daisuke, and Ishikawa Goemon. The second trio they are an homage to are the Brementown Musicians. Yeah, I know. The original third character was a rooster, but a Dragon is more interesting that a rooster. Don't you agree?

10) Nobles, being magical, are longer-lived than either Freeborn or Domestiques. The difference in aging between infants is negliable, but increases steadily as the individuals mature. This is why Fatima is 25 while Alicia is the equivalent of 18.

Nobles are not immortal. The only immortal Nobles are the Kyryn. Although the Golden Mother has made a good stab at it by surviving 1000 years.

Okay. I'll start with this.


1.) All Xanadu stories began with a snippet of poetry. This was based on a classic poem. What was the poem and who was the poet?

2.) What was Alicia's mothers name and who was she named after?

3) Xanadu was divided into three social classes based on species. There were the Nobles, the Freeborn and the Domestique. Nobles were the easiest to define because they were "magical" animals. However, the line between Freeborn and Domestique was often blurred. Can you tell into which social category the following animals fall:

Chicken. Goose. Horse. Donkey. Goat. Llama. Digger.


4) Kinomon Firestarr is a Warrior Dragon. His betrothed, Firepetal, was of the Bureaucrat class. Although these two genuinely loved each other, their engagement was arranged. This is because in the society of Golden Dragons a Warrior always marries a Bureaucrat. Can you tell me why?

5) The fire breathed by Golden Dragons has its origins in a magical artifact. What artifact is this and where did it come from?

6) Captain Jawbreaker's visit to Edoko was accompanied by a number of minor mishaps. He was always tripping over things and breaking stuff. This was done as a homage to a famous character. What character would that be?

7) There are a number of physical difference between Black Dragons and Golden Dragons although they are basically the same species. One of these differences is a bifurcation of the spade-shaped tip of their tail. This "split-tail" is not natural. It is something that is done to infant Black Dragons shortly after they are hatched. And the reason is strategic rather than cosmetic. What reason is this?

8) Who is Kajishiro? And what has he got to do with anything?

9) The trio of Tabbe le Fauve, Jonathan and Kinomon Firestarr are a homage to two separate famous trios. One is a comic trio; the other is a much older classic group. What trios are these?

10) Alicia and Fatima are the same age, yet Fatima is considered a mature vixen while Alicia is thought of as "young and irresponsible". Why?

People seemed to like the quizzes. Shall I do more? And on what topic?


And no. Politics is right out.

For the record...


1.) The first anime ever aired on Japanese TV was "Three Tales", which was an anthology of short fairy tales. It was a mid-morning cartoon show aired in 1960.

2.) Astro Boy had high tensity eye- lights, rocket feet, arm cannon, finger-lasers, machine guns in his hips, super intelligence to discern good from evil and extra sensitive hearing. (This is a difficult question to answer because Astro Boy was handled by a lot of different artists and his "equipment" varies slightly depending who is handling him. This is also true of his background story.)

3.) Totoro is indeed a mispronuciation of tororu, meaning troll. ("Totoro" was apparently a flop at the box office until the release of the Totoru doll. Noting the popularity of the doll, the movie was re-released and met with a much better reception.)

4.) "Star Wars" was overshadowed during its first release by "Super Space Fortress Yamoto". It was also variously known as Cosmoship Yamoto, Space Cruiser Yamoto, Space Battleship Yamoto and Star Blazers. Any of these answers are correct.

5.) Miyazaki had the habit of starting his movies without a completed script. He didn't like being "nailed into a box". He might have had a general storyline, but wanted the option to change his mind if he wanted to. Starting a movie without a script is not unheard of, but only Miyazaki made a habit of it.

6.) The first Lupin III video game was indeed called "Cliff Hanger" in the United States. Art from "Castle Cagliostro" and "Mamo"was used in the game.

This concludes my 12 Quizzes of Christmas. I hope you enjoyed them.

This is the last of the 12 Quizzes of Christmas.

Subject -- Anime!

1.) What is the name of the very first Japanese anime show shown on tv to a domestic audience? The year was 1960, the venue was black and white and most of the directors you've never heard of.

2.)"Astro Boy" (aka "Mighty Atom") was created Osamu Tezuka. The character first appeared in manga from 1952 to 1968. He then appeared in a black and white venue in the 1960s and was remade, in full color, in the 1980s. Most people know the backstory of the boy-robot, who was created to replace the son of the inventor who had died, in most cases, in a traffic accident. Astro Boy was later rejected by his creator and discarded. He eventually came into the possession of a scientist named (in the English version) Dr Elephun because of his big nose. At that point, the robot was transformed into a superhero with seven super powers. What were those super powers?

3.) In "My Neighbor Totoro", Mei (the younger sister) mispronounces Totoro's name. What is is that name supposed to be?

4.) "Star Wars" was eclipsed by an anime movie in its first theater release in Japan. What anime movie was this? (Hint: It was also a scifi flick.)

5.) Hayao Miyazaki had a personal quirk when it came to making his movies and it is the kind of quirk that would scare most producers/investors to death. Because he was Miyazaki, he got away with it, but almost no one else could. What quirk was this?

6.) Because of various legal actions initiated by Maurice leBlanc's estate, the character of Lupin III could not be called "Lupin" in countries outside Japan, leading to some rather ridiculous aliases, like "Rupan", Because of this legal wrangling, the first Lupin III video game released in the early 70s went by a different name altogether. What was that name? And where did the video game get most of its visual imagery?



Anyway, this concludes my 12 Quizzes of Christmas. Merry Christmas and of course I'll publish the answers tomorrow evening.

For the record...

1.) "Gertie the Dinosaur" was a short film by Winsor McCay and was featured as part of a vaudville act. It debuted in 1914. However, the very first animated feature dates back to 1888! Well before Gertie. That cartoon was "Pauvre Pierrot" by Charle-Emil Reynaud. It was part of an exhibition and included live piano music for dramatic effect. 500.000 people in Paris came to see it.

2.) The first color cartoon was "Flowers and Trees" by Walt Disney. It was part of the Silly Symphonies series and was released in 1932.

3.) The single most expensive animated feature --to date-- is "Tangled", cracking in at a whopping $275 million. For comparison, "Treasure Planet" cost a modest $140 million, "Zootopia" $150 million. "Brave" $170 million. "COCO" $175 million. And $180 million for "WALL-E"

Part 12 will follow this evening.

For the record:

1.) Walt Disney's first "cartoon star" was Little Alice from the "Alice Comedies", produced by Winkler Studios beginning in 1923, There were approximately 30 of these 10-minute shorts, featuring a live-action girl and her animated sidekick-cat Julius cavorting in an animated landscape. Alice predates Mickey Mouse by 5 years.

2.) Oswald (the Lucky) Rabbit was Disney's second cartoon star, also produced by Winkler Studios. Oswald was Disney's first fully-animated series and the first animated character with a developed personality. When Disney quit Winkler to set up his own studio out west, he was shocked to discover the copyright for Oswald belonged to his employers Margaret Winkler and Charles Mintz. He was forced to invent a new cartoon star and that star was Mickey Mouse, probably the single most famous animated character in history.

3.) Betty Boop was designed as a "homage" to Helen Kane, who was somewhat undercome by the honor. Kane was a flapper-singer whose most famous song was "I Just Want to Be Loved By You", meaning that she invented the "boo-boop-be-doop" long before Betty ever got her hands on it. No wonder Kane sued...

Now for round 11...

Subject - More stuff from the distant past

1.) What was the very first animated feature in history? And I'm not talking about that psuedo-animated Victorian novelty called the zoetrope. This was shone on a screen and had sequencial hand-drawn panels, making it a legitimate cartoon.

2.) What was the first full-color animated feature and who did it?

3.) Animated movies are the single most expensive form of entertainment any studio can produce. Soaring production costs in addition to marketing repeatedly push costs to well over $150 million. The most expensive animated feature in history --to date-- pushed the envelope well beyond this. What was it?

for the record:

1.) The baby's name is indeed Roshan.

2.) Although Don Bluth's studio did in fact have financial problems, the reason he stormed out of the Fox office has to do with artistic differences. And no, it had nothing to do with big lips. Fox wanted "Ice Age" done in CG. Bluth apparently loathes CG and demanded that he be allowed to do the movie in regular 2D animation. Fox said absolutely not, so Bluth had a hissy-fit and stormed off.

Just as well. I can't imagine the mess Bluth would have made of "Ice Age". Especially in 2D.

3.) This was something of a double-trick question. While Chris Wedge is indeed the voice of Scrat, Scrat never speaks. He just makes frustrated noises. And Scrat was never intended to be a major character. He was supposed to be part of the background behind the opening credits. But kids in test audience loved him, so his part was repeatedly expanded.



On to round 10:

Subject - Deep into the depths of cartoon history...

1.) Who was the very first star of the first series of Disney shorts?

2.) Once upon a time, there was a character named Oswald Rabbit. He was one of those "ink-blot" cartoons and a contemporary of Bosko and Betty Boop. Hardly anyone knows about Oswald Rabbit anymore, but he is indirectly responsible for one of the most important contributions to cartoon history. What did he do to achieve this?

3.) Betty Boop is actually based on a real person. Who was she?

Okay, for the record.

1.) The inspiration for Toothless' face design is in fact Stitch.

2.) The dialect is Cockney. And although the term "berkley hunt" is --how shall I say?-- more colorful than "berk", "berk" is now used to call someone a fool without regards to its livelier past.

3.) One dragon is indeed carrying Gloria from "Madagascar". (Kudos to any dragon who can catch and lift a hippo let alone carry it that far!)


Now on to round 9...

Subject - "Ice Age 1"

1.) All the characters in the movie have names, including the people. What is the name of the baby Manny and the rest are taking back to his man-herd?

2.) Don Bluth was originally scouted to direct "Ice Age". He not only refused, but stormed angrily out of the office. What upset him so much?

3.) Chris Wedge, director of "Ice Age", played the voice of one of the major characters in the movie. Which character was it?

Okay. You want it, you got it.

Subject - "How to Train Your Dragon 1"


1.) The character design for Toothless is based on a number of animals, including a giant salamander. However, his facial design was based on an equally misunderstood character from the Disney stables. Which character was this?

2.) The village where most of the action takes place is called "Berk". However, the word "berk" is also slang for "fool" in another dialect. What dialect is this?

3.) When Hiccup and Astrid are flying to dragon island, one of the dragons accompanying them is carrying a character from another animated feature. Who is this guest flyer?

For the record, the answers for "SING!" are:

1.) Yessir. The bunny masks worn by the the gorilla gang while committing robbery are a homage to Snow Ball from "The Secret Life of Pets".

2.) Buster Moon tells the red panda girls that "Your singing is horrible and your footwork stinks like feet". I'd be pissed, too.

3.) Meena's grandpa is a homage to Babar the Elephant, although this doesn't become clear until the night of the contest when he shows up in a green suit. King Babar wore a green suit in all of his books.


Now, do you wish me to continue? Or shall I quit?

Okay, didn't get'cha this time, either.

For the record.

1.) Nicholas Piberius Wilde. And yes. It's a tribute to James Tiberius Kirk

2.) Judy's full name is Judith Lavern Hopps.

3.) Among the Artists featured are: Fleetwood Yak, Catty Perry, Destiny's Cub, the Beagles, Black Sable, Ewe 2, Fur Fighters, Hyena Gomez, Kanine West, Mick Jaguar and (my personal favorite) Guns and Rodents


Okay, on to round 7:

Subject - "SING!"


1.) The gorilla gang are wearing bunny masks when they commit their robbery. That's obvious. Can you tell what particular rabbit those masks are meant to represent?

2.) What does Buster Moon say to the red panda girl group that makes them mad?

3.) Meena's grandfather is a tribute to another famous character. What character is it?

Man, you people really ARE tough.

For the record:

1.) Yes indeed. The other "Full-length" short was "The Prince and the Pauper", starring Mickey Mouse. It was followed by the feature "The Rescuers Down Under".

2.) "COCO" made the Chinese censors cry. They decided it was a lovely, sentimental film that had more to do with the veneration of ancestors than it did with death and marked it for release in China. (Actually, the idea of a bunch of stone-faced (former Communist) bureaucrats bawling over an animated movie is both amusing and encouraging. It makes me think there might be hope for the world after all.)

3.) Yep. In Brazilian, 'coco' means shit.


Okay, round 6...


Subject -- "Zootopia"


1.) It is a fact that Nick Wilde has a middle name. What is it? And what is the joke behind it?

2.) Judy Hopps also has a middle name. What is it?

3.) On her first trip to Zootopia, Judy flips through her smartphone, looking for music. She settles on a selection by Gazelle. Name three of the groups she decides against before choosing Gazelle.

Like I said. You people are tough.

For the record:

1.) Phil Silvers

2.) Michigan J Frog

3.) Mighty Mouse, for snorting "coke".

Sooo the classic stuff seems to be easy. Let's try something newer...

Subject - "COCO"



1.) Objections have been raised to the length of "Olaf's Frozen Adventure", which was the lead-in for the movie "COCO", but it's not the first time Disney has used an extra-long cartoon as a lead-in for a feature-length movie. The first one occurred 27 years prior to "COCO". Can you name the lead-in cartoon and the feature movie that followed it?

2.) The Chinese usually ban movies that focus on death, as it is considered monumentally unlucky. However, they made an exception for "COCO". What caused them to change their minds?

3.) When Disney released "COCO" in Brazil, the name was changed to "Viva!". Why?

Geeze! You guys are tough!

Anyway, for the record:

1.) Indeed Nana Oyl, Cole Oyl and Castor Oyl

2.) Yes indeed. Popeye rubbed the head of the magical Whiffle Hen.

3.) It was indeed the Quakers who took Popeye to task. And over a relatively innocent mistake. Popeye was commissioned to star in a series of mini-comics for Quaker Oatmeal. Instead of singing "I'm Popeye the sailor man!" in these comics, he sang "I'm Popeye the Quaker man!". The Quakers took exception to this. (I don't know if they also took exception to Olive Oyl. That wasn't in the history I read.)


Okay. Round 4.

Cartoon - various classic


1.) Top Cat of the cartoon series of the same name was loosely based on a famous comedian. Who was it?

2.) What is the official name of the WB frog who sang only at the wrong moments?

3.) What Saturday morning cartoon superhero was embroiled in a scandal in the early 1980s because of his actions on screen?